Santa Marta, Colombia

[iflyrc5]

I have tried asking on the Colombia board and the South America board with no success so thought I would try the larger audience that we have here. Our Nov 08 Cruise on the Prinsendam stops in Santa Marta, Colombia. HAL is only showing one shore excursion. I am looking for folks that have been to Santa Marta for some basic information -

 

Is it an industrial port or is the city and shops near the pier?

Is the town safe to tour on your own?

Recommedations of sites to see or recommended tours?

Or is it best to stay on the ship and have a "sea day" at the pier????

 

From what I read Santa Marta is one of the oldest cities in South America and has some historical sites and nice beaches. I have done a few searches and not found a lot or the sites are in spanish which I can't read.

 

Any information is appreciated.

[Krazy Kruizers]

HAL has just started to use this port -- it will be new for us when we sail next spring.

 

So I am also looking for information about Santa Marta.

 

Hopefully by the time your cruise date gets closer, more tours will be added.

 

One time we had to wait until 3 weeks before a cruise for the excursions to be listed for a port.

[tjcox9]

We visited this port last year on another line. The tour (city tour, I believe) we took may have been the worst tour ever. There was very little to see and our guide was useless.

 

The highlight of the tour was a stop at a beach hotel for an included cold drink if that gives you any idea of what there was to see!!

 

Unless there was something else to see on some of the other tours, this port was truly a waste of time. I'd not venture out on my own here. I don't recall how far the port was from the town.

 

Sorry I can't give you more specifics, but this port is buried way deep in the recesses of my brain near the bottom of the list of ports I've visited!!

[jhannah]

Personally, I'd never get off the ship in Columbia. Any port. Don't know why any cruise line does business there.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We don't worry as long as we take the ship's tour.

[sppunk]

Personally, I'd never get off the ship in Columbia. Any port. Don't know why any cruise line does business there.

Cartagena is one of my favorite cities on the planet - it's easily in my top six or seven behind St. Petersburg, Boston, Glasgow, Sydney and Mainz.

[jtl513]

Personally, I'd never get off the ship in Columbia. Any port. Don't know why any cruise line does business there.

We took the City Tour in Cartagena and very much enjoyed the Fort, Monastery, and walking in the Old Town section. I don't know how more there is to warrant a second visit though! :)

[Old As Dirt Mom]

I have tried asking on the Colombia board and the South America board with no success so thought I would try the larger audience that we have here. Our Nov 08 Cruise on the Prinsendam stops in Santa Marta, Colombia. HAL is only showing one shore excursion. I am looking for folks that have been to Santa Marta for some basic information -

 

Is it an industrial port or is the city and shops near the pier?

Is the town safe to tour on your own?

Recommedations of sites to see or recommended tours?

Or is it best to stay on the ship and have a "sea day" at the pier????

 

From what I read Santa Marta is one of the oldest cities in South America and has some historical sites and nice beaches. I have done a few searches and not found a lot or the sites are in spanish which I can't read.

 

Any information is appreciated.

 

My sister-in-law is from Colombia. I will ask her for some information, and pass on to you anything I learn. I'll get back to you on this thread either later today or tomorrow.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We took the City Tour in Cartagena and very much enjoyed the Fort, Monastery, and walking in the Old Town section. I don't know how more there is to warrant a second visit though! :)

 

The first time we were there we did that tour as well.

We have been there quite a few times and one time we did the harbor cruise on a Pirate Ship. TOOOO HOT!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

My sister-in-law is from Colombia. I will ask her for some information, and pass on to you anything I learn. I'll get back to you on this thread either later today or tomorrow.

 

Will be looking forward to your report!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We stopped at Cartagena on our 19 day cruise and here is what I wrote about that port on another thread:

As much as we hate Cartagena, we do have to give them credit for taking care as many tours as possible. The Norwegian Sun was also in port with us that day. Between the ships, many people booked quite a few tours. And Cartagena came through. At one point we counted nearly 100 buses for the 2 ships. Even as some were leaving, more were arriving. Buses were brought in from many of the surrounding towns. Having been here numerous times, we never saw Cartagena knock themselves out like they did this time. There were even 3 shuttles operating between the 2 ships and the freight entrance where a couple of shops have reopened since we were last here a couple of years ago. Even the little bar was open. But we do have to laugh at one thing - just as we were getting ready to bring in our gangway, one of the buses came racing back down the pier. A tour guide jumped out and handed over a hiking boot to an official that one of the passengers had left on his bus. Yes - you read correctly - someone got off the bus without his boot!! Didn’t he know that a boot was missing from one foot??

[Old As Dirt Mom]

My Colombian sister-in-law says that Santa Marta is a beautiful beach town where the Colombians themselves like to go on vacation. She went with several of her girl friends to Santa Marta while she was in college during vacation, sort of like spring break. It's not a big port, but it does have some interesting historical architecture and attractive resorts, according to her. I'll see her tomorrow, and she says she'll have some more info for me.

[slotto]

One of the ports last year on our Panama Canal cruise was Santa Marta. The thing that I most remember about Santa Marta was the poverty. We took the ship tour and was not impressed. We loved Cartegna though.

[Krazy Kruizers]

One of the ports last year on our Panama Canal cruise was Santa Marta. The thing that I most remember about Santa Marta was the poverty. We took the ship tour and was not impressed. We loved Cartegna though.

 

Do you remember which tour you were on?

[slotto]

I don't remember the exact name, but think it was something like Santa Marta Highlights. We were on the NCL Sun, 19 day, Panama Canal cruise.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Iflyrc5:

 

I think for this port, an escorted ship's tour would be best.

 

If the ship offers a tour to Tayrona National Park, my sis-in-law recommends that you go there. It is an eco-preserve some 34 kilometres (about 20 miles) from Santa Marta. For more info on Santa Marta, I attach another link.

 

Hope this gives you something to work with.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks